Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-23
LESSONS FROM BALTIMORE.
Reforms which a Correspondent thinks
Washington Might Well Copy.

To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
ApropOS to the announcement in a weekly paper
that the agent Of the Humane Society has been in
Baltimore and reports that city to be in want Of
street drinking fountains for animals it is no
doubt seasonable to suggest that we initiate some
very good uses which the monumental city pos
sesse5 and which we lack. No one will be hardy
enough to deny that the average WashngtOnian
is very proud of his city, and whether his opinion
Is well grounded or not, usually thinks the capital
possessed OF all the advantages OF which any
modern city can boast. That this city is far in
advance of others In many respects cannot be de-
MED, but that we have much to learn from the ex-
perlence OF other places is equally incOntrOvert-
lble; no other proof OF this is needed than the
Iact That our new police regulations are made in
the light or what has well served the purpose OF
other cities. Whether the sister city OF Baltimore
has not sufficient number OF drinking fountains
Tor the dumb creatures, the writer, who makes no
pretenslon 10 know anything about the number of
drinking fountains there should be for definite
number OF horses, has no means OF ascertanng.
notice, however, that one never sees in the mOnu-
mental city driver riding on loaded cart, but he
invariably walks, leading the horse by the bride;
that men and boys Of such type as the usual
driver Is, should be so filled with the humanitarian
spirit appeared to me impossible. Upon making
inquiries found that city ordinance required
That drivers OF carts
LEAD THEIR HORSES
when the vehicle is loaded Whether Agent
Key, in his blocking around Baltimore" noticed
this or not have no means OF knowing. would
humbly suggest to the agent OF the Humane So
cle.y tnat he take The matter into consideration,
t ana th he should mo- nd the proposition
suggestion that a clause aiming at such an end be
inserted in the police regulations That such an
commissioners 1t would, think, considering the
existing regulations, be foolish to urge. TO bring
forward the argument that our streets are more
level ana better paved than those OF our netghbOr
city as proof that such regulation Is useless
would be but weight thrown into the other side
OF the balance, as any one can see by the s h est
observation that 1t Is much more labor to haul
heavy loads over the asphalt, especially In this
hot weather, than over cobble stones or granite
blocks Unfortunately the regulation could not
be made TO apply to twu-hOrse wagons, In which
case 1t would be impossible to lead the animals.
STREET CARS FIRES.
While ain writing OF one thing which our city
lacked, and which our sister city has, 1t may not
be Inappropriate to speak OF Use which the Balti-
more street railroads have long since adopted and
which, 80 lar as know. none OF our five companies
have introduced. refer To the use of bent pieces
OF track. supported by wood, in which are holes
large enough for the passage OF hose such as used
by fire companies. On very many OF the Balti-
more lines each carries OF these pieces one
Tor each rail, 50 that when fire requires that
nose be run across q car track the course OF the
ear is not interered WITH and is only DELAYED long
enough To iasten the bridges down by means Of
pins which are driven beside the track. No one
who saw the way that the Metropolitan and Belt
Line cars were blocked up at the large Gait fire a
lew days ago could but contrast it with the regu-
lar run OF the in Baltimore when fire is near
the track. Nothing short OF large fire on a
very narrow street will stop the regular
passage of the in that city. BY means OF these
hose-spanning contrivances, great deal or in
convenience Is done away with. There may be
some, though have heard none trivial objections
objections are no doubt concOcted to influence
public opinion against them, in order that the
cost may be obviated. The cost, however, it
seems TO me, would be very small and in view OF
the great service they render to travellers by
keeping the cars on time. or nearly so, | would
suggest TO the railroad companies that they intro
duce them on their lines.
GRoOvED TRACKS AT CROSSINGS,
And, as we are on the railroad subject another
suggestion, If you please The Metropolitan Road
did very bad thing, think it must be conceded.
when IL put a grooyed crossing at 9th and Penn
sylvania avenue. The experiment will only go to
prove that grooved rail can be used and that all
objections to the same invalid. No one who
has driven the crossing can but be fully salts
ned with the ease and comfort which IL affords
compared with what 1t Was before the improve
ment was made. The groove In the case men
TONED is, am told by one competent 10 Judge,
unnecessarily large, and that smaller one colI&
he used just as well and give greater comfort
AS the Columbia Railroad is now LAYING the
largest rail In the city, and as 1t traverses two
avenues, which are favorte drives 1t would not be
bad idea for the Commissioners to take hand
and require that from 4th TO 9th the grooved rail
be used and the space between the rails be con-
creted When this has been required and when
the Commissioners shall have ordered that stint
lar crossings TO The one at 9th and PennSy lvanil
avenue be placed on Massachusetts avenue al the
Intersection OF 4th 7th, 9Th IIth and 18th streets
We would have drive which would be an honor
to the city, and over which IL would be pleasure
TO travel. After the Commissioners had agreed on
this 1t would then be In order require the Wash
ingtOn and Georgetown road to lay grOOved rail
the full length OF their route Pennsylvania ave-
hue and 18th street.
1t is the firm conviction OF the writer who Is a
WaShingtOn1an, that when we shall see the rail-
roads send their unAindered by fire. when
our cart-driverS shall be required to lead their
heavily burdened horses, and when we have on
our street railroads grooved rail- that the public
Will have justice done them and all Will be well
rewarded for the pains they have taken In aboi-
iSh1ng the abuses. REFORM
BOOKS OF THE WEEK.